I thought today would feel different.
After everything he whispered yesterday—after the way he froze, the way his shoulders relaxed when I told him I was waiting—I thought he would finally say it.
But no.
Ruhan didn't avoid me.He just… hovered.
Near enough that I could feel his presence,
far enough that my heart got annoyed.
He kept looking at me like he wanted to say something—and then looked away like the words scared him more than the seniors ever did.
In class, his foot tapped under the table.During break, he stood beside me for a whole minute, silent, breathing like he was preparing for an exam.
When our eyes met, he swallowed hard and walked off like he forgot how legs work.
What is this boy doing?
He knew I was waiting.I told him, clearly, softly, that whenever his heart was ready…mine would be too.
So why was he acting like love had a deadline and he was already late?
By last period, I couldn't handle it anymore.
When the bell rang, I grabbed my bag and walked faster than usual.He stopped near me as if he'd been following quietly.
"Pragati…"His voice was too soft.
I turned. "You've been weird all day."
He blinked."Because you… you said something yesterday."
My breath caught."So?"
He looked down at his hands—those same hands I bandaged last night.His thumb rubbed the bandage like he needed courage from it.
"You said you'd wait," he murmured."And that just… scared me more."
My heart slowed.
Why scared?
He finally met my eyes, and the fear in his made my chest tighten.
"Because now it's real," he whispered."And if I say it wrong… or too soon… or too late…I don't want to lose you."
His voice broke on the last word.
And suddenly I understood:
He wasn't avoiding me.He was terrified that loving me might break something he didn't know how to fix.
I stepped closer—closer than I ever had.His breath hitched.
"Ruhan," I whispered, "you don't lose someone who's already choosing you."
His eyes softened.His fingers twitched, like he wanted to hold my hand but didn't dare.
"Then why," he whispered back, "do I still feel like I'm not enough to say it yet?"
For a moment, neither of us moved.
His words hung between us like the air suddenly got too heavy to breathe.Not enough.Not ready.Afraid to lose me.
I didn't know love could sound like fear…but with him, it did.
I stepped even closer until there was barely space for doubt to stand between us.
"Ruhan," I whispered, "you don't have to be perfect to say it. I'm not waiting for perfect. I'm waiting for you."
He exhaled sharply, chest rising like he'd been holding his breath since yesterday.His eyes softened—really softened—like something inside him finally let go.
His fingers twitched again.And this time…he didn't pull back.
Slowly, almost shyly, his hand brushed mine.The lightest touch.The kind that feels louder than shouting.
He looked at me, eyes warm, scared, hopeful—all at once.
"Pragati…" he whispered, "I don't want to hurt you. Not with my words. Not with my heart."
"You won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because," I said softly, smiling just a little,"if you wanted to hurt me… you wouldn't be shaking right now."
His breath caught.He looked down at his own fingers like he didn't even realize how hard they trembled.
Then—slowly, carefully—he intertwined them with mine.
My heart actually forgot how to beat for a second.
He didn't hold my hand tight.He held it gently, like he was scared his own strength would break me.
"I've never… felt this before," he murmured."And I don't know how to say it without messing everything up."
"You won't mess anything."
He looked up.His voice dropped even lower.
"Then why does it feel like the moment I say it… everything will change?"
"Because it will," I whispered, stepping even closer,"and I'm not scared of that. Not with you."
His free hand came up as if he wanted to touch my face—then stopped midway, fingers hovering near my cheek, trembling again.
He swallowed hard.
"Pragati…"My name on his tongue felt like a confession all by itself.
He leaned in—just a little, not enough to cross the line, but enough to erase the distance.
And then—
BRRRRRING—
The school bell screamed through the hallway like it personally wanted to ruin the moment.
We both jumped.
His hand tightened around mine instinctively before he let go too fast, like he'd been caught doing something illegal.
He looked away, clearing his throat, face slightly pink.
"We… uh… should go," he said softly.
I smiled, unable to help it."Yes. But this conversation is not finished."
He met my eyes again—and for the first time, he didn't look away.
"No," he whispered. "It isn't."
❤️ by Pragati Priya (pen name: Zoey)
Thank you for reading this chapter!This story is an original work by Pragati Priya (Zoey_8087).Please remember that copying, reposting, translating, or distributing any part of this story without permission is strictly not allowed.
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